On Sunday, the Buddhist center Wat Phra Dhammakaya along Ronkenburgstraat in Lede served as the setting for an impressive ceremony with 800 guests for the ordination of fourteen men from Germany, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Norway, and a Belgian as Buddhist monks. Among that international group was Kris, a former resident of Lede who has since been named Long Phi Paññāthito. He is happy to tell us how he arrived at this point.

“Actually, everyone should learn to meditate.”

“I ended up here about nine years ago on a tour organized by KWB and became fascinated,” says 52-year-old Kris, who received the name Paññāthito (pronounced Panyathito) as a monk on Sunday. The Ronkenbrug site, which is now the Dhammakaya Buddhist center for Benelux, was not unknown to him, however. “As a little boy, I came here on retreat when this was still a convent with nuns,” he says.

Kris became fascinated by his introduction to the new approach. He delved into meditation and became a regular volunteer who can be found at the center almost every week. “Everyone should actually learn to meditate. Something that happens far too little in our busy Western lives, but which helps to find the positive in a stressful life.”

For Kris, the location has therefore been associated with meaning and reflection since his youth. “Something that is extremely important.” For the man, it was his fifth ordination, because unlike the Catholic faith, in Buddhism you can choose to be active as a monk for certain periods of your life, for a few weeks, months, or years.

“Every time, I still get something out of the ceremony and the preparation leading up to it.”

“Last year I attended a similar ceremony in Denmark, and even now, for the fifth time, I still get a lot out of the ceremony and the preparation leading up to it.” The preparation is no easy task, as the transition from ordinary man to monk requires many rituals. “This week, my fourteen fellow candidates and I received a lot of training, our hair was shaved off, we took our vows, and we received our orange robes and our alms bowls.”

Now that the ordination is complete, fifteen new monks are temporarily living in the temple to follow the regular routines alongside the resident monks over the coming week. On Wednesday, July 19, they will go on an alms round. For this, they will gather at 6 a.m. at the temple on the grounds. “In addition, we will participate in all meditation sessions and eat our final meal in the afternoon, just like the other monks.” Finally, the 15 new monks will travel to Denmark for the third week. “To delve even deeper into meditation there.”

“I have resolved to participate in this ritual annually”

A process and schedule of several weeks that Kris normally wants to repeat annually. “This ritual stirs something within me that has led me to resolve to repeat this annually, at least as long as my health permits.” Kris might possibly take things a step further next year. “I am thinking of taking the training in Thailand for a month then.”

Meditation series and lecture

Those who wish to deepen their meditation practice can attend meditation series Meditation sessions and the lecture will take place at Wat Phra Dhammakaya Benelux - Bron van Stilte, Ronkenburgstraat 25 in Lede. More info at https://bronvanstilte.be